Securing device for mirrors and the like



March l0, 1959 s. slLvERMAN sEcUEING DEVICE FOR MIRRORS AND THE LIKE Filed Marsh a, 1955 *l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. SEBET SILVEEMB N March 10, 1959 s. sYxLvl-:RMAN

SECURING DEVICE FOR MIRRORS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1955 mm W M i mw m ,m B E S March 10, 1959 s. smvl-:RMAN 2,876,972

SECRING DEVICE FOR MIRRORS AND THE LIKE INVENToR.

SEBET' SH/ERMRN ATTO/P409.

United States PatentI O SECURING DEVICE FOR MIRRORS AND THE LIKE Application March 8, 1955, Serial No. 492,849

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-28) This invention relates generally to means for protectively supporting mirrors and other such fragile articles against breakage or other injury prior to the mounting thereof in position, and more particularly to the provision of novel suspension means for removably supporting the mirror or the like within its shipping container to not only elfectively protect the same against injury during shipment and storage thereof while in its container but also to expedite safe removal of the mirror or the like from the container and the handling thereof preliminarily to its being mounted in position for use.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide such a construction wherein the'unit may be expeditiously secured in place and removed therefrom with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a construction including suspension or hanger means which, even in the absence of a principal hanger part from each of the hanger means, is etlective to carry the unit in a generally upright position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a construction including hanger means wherein the principal hanger parts aforesaid are removably secured in place through the medium of friction induced by their own inherent resilience.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a construction including means through the medium of which the unit may be resiliently secured in a packing box for limited planar movement relative to the packing box, all for minimizing the effect of any severe shock to which the packing box may be subjected during shipment.

And still another object of the present invention is to provide such a construction which is exceedingly simple in design and construction and which is comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that said invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and general arrangement of parts, all as described in detail in the following specilication, as shown in the accompanying drawing and as fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a packaged mirror;

Figure 2 is the same as Figure l, but the cover section of the packing box is omitted to expose the mirror;

Figure 3 is the same as Figures l and 2, but the cover section of the packing box and the mirror are omitted to expose hanger parts secured to the main box section;

Figure 4 is a view looking at the back of the mirror and showing the hanger parts secured thereto;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 s a fragmentary section showing details of the packing box;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the principal parts of a hanger disassembled;

2,876,972 Patented Mar. 10, 1959 ICC Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the relative positions of the hanger parts preliminarily to being fully assembled;

Figure 9 is the same as Figure 8, but shows the hanger parts fully assembled;

Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 9;

Figure l2 is a view taken on line 12-12 of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical section showing how the hanger member is effective to carry the mirror even in the absence of a principal hanger part.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be observed that the present invention is shown embodied in an arrangement for packaging mirrors, although it will be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to mirrors alone. The mirror as shown is of the conventional box type, designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes a rigid backing member 11 and a plurality of molding strips 12 which form the marginal frame for the glass plate 13 of the mirror, which glass plate s secured to the molding strips 12 of the trarne through the medium of a plurality of marginally spaced clips 14.

The mirror 10 is shown packaged in a suitably heavy conventional paper board box which is provided with a main body section and a cover section respectively designated generally by the numerals 15 and 16, the main box section 15 being provided with a bottom wall 17. For mounting the mirror 10 within the box, four suitably spaced hanger sets, which are each designated generally by the numeral 18, are interposed between the bottom wall 17 of the main box section 15 and the backing member 11 of the mirror frame. i

Each hanger set 18 comprises a member 19 formed of spring sheet metal and bent, as best shown in Figure 7, to provide a pair of longitudinally spaced coplanar base portions 20--20 which are `adapted to be secured atwise against the inner ,face of the bottom wall 17 of the main box section 15. The base portions Ztl-20 are secured to the bottom wall 17 through the medium of rivets 21, which are projected through the base portions 20-20, the bottom wall 17 and a rigid plate 22 disposed on the outside of the bottom wall 17 for reinforcing the same.

The section of the spring metal member 19 intermediate its base portions 20-20 is arched as shown and includes a pair of reversely curved portions 23-23 respectively adjacent the base portions 2li-20. Interposed between the reversely curved portions 23--23 and positioned thereby in oset relation to the base portions 20--20 is a crown part having a pair of laterally spaced elements 24-24 which respectively extend lengthwise between and interconnect the upper ends of the reversely curved portions 23-23, these elements 24-24 being disposed in substantially coplanar relation and being sep arated from one another by rectangular opening 25 centrally formed in the crown part of the member 19. Preferably, the opposite end portions of each of the laterally spaced elements 24-24 are correspondingly inclined downwardly and inwardly toward each other to depress the elements 24-24 slightly below the terminal ends of the reversely curved portions 23-23. Each of the elements 24-24 intermediate its opposite ends is provided with an outwardly pressed channel having opposite end walls 26-26 and an outer wall 27, the channels so formed being respectively disposed on opposite sides of the opening 25 with the outer wall parts 27--27 thereof disposed in a common plane spaced from and paralleling that of the base portions 20-20 of the member 19. At the opposite ends of the rectangular aperture 25, the terminal ends of the reversely curved portions 23-23 3 are pressed out to form a pair of lips 28L28 which are respectively divergent with respect to the common plane of the adjoining end portions of the elements 24-24. I Each hangervset 1'8` additionally includes a member 29 formed of rigid sheet metal which is bent, as best shown in Figure 7, to provide a pair of longitudinally spaced,

coplanar base portions Sil- 30 which are adapted tobe secured flatwise against the back of the backing member 11 of the mirror. These base portions 30-30 of the member 29 are secured to the backing member 11 through the medium of rivets 31, which are projected through the base portions 30-30 and the backing member. 11.

The section of the rigid metal plate 29 intermediate the base portions 30-311 is arched as shown and includes a pair of reversely curved portions 32A-32 respectively adjacent the base portions .S0-30. Extending longitu-l dinally between and interconnecting the reverse'ly curved portions 32-32 and positioned thereby in offsetrelation to the base portions 30-30 is a crown part in the form of a central longitudinally extending ilat element 33 which interconnects the reversely curved portions 32-32 and which is disposed in a plane spaced closely to and paralleling that of the base portions .3G-3i).

The members 19 and 29 of each hanger set 18 are respectively so disposed relatively to each other that the connecting element 33 of the member 29 is free to project into the rectangular aperture 25 of the member 19. The connecting element 33 of the member 29 is oi a width to lit loosely between the connecting elements 24-24 of the member 19, and of a length to fit loosely between the lips 28-28 ot the lmember 19 with the terminal edges of the lips 23-28 positioned in opposed spaced relation respectively to the reversely curved portions 32-32 of the member 29.

When the members 19 and 29 of a hanger set are intertted as aforementioned and as best shown in Figures l and 13, there is formed a rectangular channel or passage 34 which extends transversely through the hanger set, which passage is dened on the side proximate the mirror by the coplanar auxiliary crown parts 27--27 of the member 19, on the side proximate the bottom wall 1'7 of the main box section 15 by the crown element 33 of the member 29 and at the opposite ends thereof by the portions 26-26 of the member 19. It will be noted that when the parts are assembled as shown in Figures l() and 13 the spacing between the mirror 10 and the bottom wall 17 of the main box section is only slightly greater than the overall depth of the member 19, while it is several times as great as the overall depth of the member 29, as a consequence of which thereotangular channel or passage 34 is positioned a substantial distance from the bottom wall 17 of the main box section and relatively close to the mirror 10.

Each hanger set further includes a member 35, as shown most clearly in Figure 7, also formed of spring sheet metal, this member being adapted for projection through the channel or passage 34 ormed between the interiitted members 19 and 29 of the hanger set for detachably interlocking said members together and so removably securing the mirror 10 to the bottom wall 17 of the mirror container. It will be noted that 'each of the locking members 35 is provided with a leading section comprising the angularly related portions 36 and 37, a trailing section comprising the angularly lrelated portions 38 and 39, and an intermediate section in the form of a transversely extending groove 40 having opposed side walls 41-41 and a base wall 42, the side walls of the groove being oppositely inclined as shown. The leading section and the intermediate grooved section ot the locking member 35 are of such uniform width as to enable it to be readily inserted into the channel 34 aforesaid for seating of the element 33 of the mirror-'mounted member 29in the groove 4t) of the inserted locking member. In order to facilitate such insertion 'the leading `e`d portion 36 of the locking member 35 is provided with tapered side edges, as shown.

It will be observed that the several portions of the locking member 35 are so angularly related as to normally position the intermediate groove 40 in offset relation to a nat plane extending through the line of juncture between the portions 36 and 37 and the line of juncture between the portions 38 and 39. Thus, when the locking member 35 is so projected through the passage formed between the baek 11 of the mirror 10 and the hanger member 29 secured thereto as to present the groove 40 of the locking member in registry with the element 33 of the hanger member 29 the said locking member is resiliently secured in position against displacement from the hanger member 29. In this connection it will be noted that the opposite end portions of the locking member 35 bear against the back 11 of the mirror, as at t3-43, simultaneously as the intermediate grooved portion thereof bears against the element 33' of the hanger member 29, and thus, when the locking member is inserted in position to interlock the hanger members 19 and 29, as shown in Figures 9 to l2 inclusive, the portions 37 and 39 of the locking member are respectively disposed beneath the raised portions 27--27 of the laterally spaced elements 24-24 of the hanger member 19 and so interlock the latter with the hanger member`29.

The rst step in packaging the mirror 10 may be to support the main box section 1S with the opening thereinto presenting upwardly. The mirror 1t) is' then placed in the main box section 15 with its face 13 presenting upwardly and the four hanger members 29 on the back thereof in intertitting registry with the four underlying hanger members 19, whereupon the intertted members 19 and 29 of each hanger set 1S are locked together by insertion of the locking member 35 through the channel or passage 34 formed between the intertted members of each hanger set. l

When lit is desired to interlock the intertitted members 19 and 29 of a given hanger set by means of its locking i member 35 the latter is initially disposed, as most clearly shown in Figure S, with its tapered nose portion 36 in position to be rectilinearly projected into the aforesaid channel or passage 34. Upon then pushing the member 35 inwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow, so that it eventually assumes its fully engaged position shown in Figure 9, the associated hanger members 19 and 29 will be positively intcrlocked, and when all of the hanger sets have been so interlocked the mirror 10 will be mounted securely upon the wall 17 of its protective shipping container or box, whereupon` the latter may beclosed and otherwise prepared for shipment.

11n order to facilitate insertion of the member 35 into locking position as above described, it may be desirable to provide it with a struck-out element t4 which serves, conjointly with the heel portion 33 thereof, as a rest for supporting the locking member upon the inner surface of the container wall 17 with its nose portion 36 in the plane of its initial projection into and through the channel or passage 34 aforesaid.

The coacting members of each 'hanger set are designed to permit only a limited amount of planar movement of the mirror 10 relatively to the wall of the packing box upon which it is mounted, while all shocks to which the packaged mirror may be subjected during shipment and other handling thereof are largely absorbed and cushioned by the inherent spring of the metal of which the hanger members 19 are formed.

In order to remove the mirror 16 from the packing box, the latter is uncovered and supported in a generally vertical position, whereupon the weight of the mirror 10 causes the same to shift in its plane downwardly so that the lowermost reversely curved portions 32 of the` hanger members 29 hook over the corresponding lips y28 'of the hanger members 19, as shown in Figure l3. Thereupon, the locking members 35 are removed by hooking a `iihg'efr of the hand over their heel portions 38 and pulling them out from their interlocked engagement with the hanger sets. The mirror 10, still supported upon the container 17 by the interengaged hanger members 19 and 29, is next lifted so as to disengage the reversely curved portions 32 of the hanger members 29 from the lips 28 of the hanger members 19 and so as to withdraw the connecting elements 33 of the hanger members 29 from the rectangular aper tures 25 of the hanger members 19. It will be understood, of course, that alternatively the rst step in packaging the mirror may be to support the main box section 15 in a generally vertical position, whereupon the hanger members 29 secured to the mirror 10 may be hooked to the hanger members 19 as aforesaid before the hanger sets 18 are fully assembled.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without involving any departure from the general principles or real spirit thereof. For example, the packaged unit may be other than that of a mirror, as, for instance, a picture or a cabinet. The packing box itself may be of any desired construction and/or material. Also, in certain instances, the hanger sets of the present invention may be employed as such to mount an article directly upon a wall, in which case the hanger members 19 would be adapted for securement to said wall preliminarily to interlocking engagement therewith of the hanger members 29 secured to the back of the article to be so wallmounted. Still further, the hanger members 19, which have been described hereinabove as being permanently secured to the wall 17 of the container, may be removably secured thereto so that upon removal of the mirror or other article from its container, the hanger members 19 may also be removed and then secured to a wall for remounting of the article upon said wall by interengagement of the hanger set parts as hereinbefore described. Accordingly, it is intended to claim the invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A hanger of the character described comprising a pair of hanger parts adapted to be secured respectively to an upright wall member and an upright unitary member secured to the wall member by said hanger, said hanger parts being provided respectively with sections which arch in opposite directions toward one another, one arched section being projected through the crown of the other arched section to conjointly form therewith a channel which extends through said hanger, and being formed on opposite sides of its crown for hookingly engaging over the opposed edge of the crown receiving opening in the crown of the other arched section and an additional hanger part which extends through said channel in underlying relation to each of said arched portions and which is operative to secure said pair of hanger parts together, said pair of hanger parts being hookingly interengaged in the manner aforesaid for supporting the weight of said upright unitary member, whether or not said additional part is operatively positioned.

2. A hanger of the character described comprising a pair of hanger parts adapted to be secured respectively to an upright wall member and an upright unitary member secured to the wall member by said hanger, said -hanger parts being provided respectively with sections which arch in opposite directions toward one another, one arched section being projected through the crown of the other arched section to conjointly form therewith a lchannel which extends through said hanger, and being reversely curved on opposite sides of its crown for hookingly engaging over the opposed edge of the crown receiving opening in the crown of the other arched section and an additional hanger part which extends through said channel in underlying relation to each of said arched portions and which is operative to secure said pair of hanger parts together, one of said reversely curved hanger part portions being hooked around the edge ofl the aperture through which it projects and seated thereon for supporting the i weight of said upright unitary member, whether or not said additional part is operatively positioned.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 346,353 Boyce July 27, 1886 1,564,715 Russell Dec. 8, 1925 1,573,579 Ross Feb. 16, 1926 2,093,734 Place Sept. 21, 1937 2,420,425 Hardwick May 13, 1947 2,711,801 Super June 28, 1955 

